Wellington's Quest - Robert F. Clifton (beach books .TXT) 📗

had to know. What he needed was information and he mounted the mule again and with the carbine in one hand and the rope reins in the other began the ride to Mankato.

As he rode into town on the bare back of the mule he was met with mayhem. Men, both young and old walked quickly through the streets, all armed or seeking weapons to defend themselves. Women cried, other stood mutes as if in shock, fearful for their lives and those of their loved ones.

Jim maneuvered the mule through the crowds of people and when finally reaching the hitching post in front of the town hall dismounted and fashioned the rope reins to the rail. A man stood watching him. “Did you just come into town?” , the man asked.

“Yes, I came in on the south road”, Jim answered.

“Did you see anything? Did you see any Sioux?”, the man asked.

“No, all I've seen is death and destruction”, Jim replied.

“I see that you're armed. Good thing, you might need to be if they come here”, the stranger advised.

“Really? I don't think that the Indians would attack us here in Mankato”, said Jim.

“That's what they thought over in Ulm. The word here is that they burnt much of the town”, said the man.

Jim shook his head in disbelief. “Ulm? They attacked and burnt Ulm?, he asked.

“Yep, they sure did. A fella rode in here about two hours ago. He's in pretty bad shape. He told what happened in Ulm. Right now he's with the doctor”, the man replied as he walked away.

Jim Wellington checked the mule, then walked a short distance to the law office of Sidney Tozer, one of the contacts recommended to him by Milford Wilcox. When he got there he walked into the office and introduced himself to the lawyer. After shaking hands with Tozer Jim took a seat on a hard, wooden chair. He noticed the neat stack of papers, the dual ink wells, pens and blotting paper placed on the desk top. Then, he waited for the lawyer to speak.

“So Mister Wellington, you come to me in troubled times. Awful things are happening. Men, women and children killed by the savages. Awful, just awful. Nonetheless, life must go on. I am certain that the military will put a stop to this. Don't you agree?”, said Tozer.

“I sure hope so. However, it don't take a genius to figure out that if the Sioux attack Fort Ridgley, that pins down the army and the rest of the tribe can raid the settlements. We might be here for some time”, Jim suggested.

“Possible, very possible. Well all we can do is wait and see. In the meantime what can I do for you?”, asked Tozer.

“Right now, I have mule, two firearms and eight dollars to my name. I need a place to live, food to eat and information. Milford Wilcox told me to see you”, answered Jim.

“I see”, said Tozer as he opened a desk drawer and removed a telegram. This is a list of instructions from Mister Wilcox authorizing me to attend to your needs. As for a place of residence you will reside at Mister Wilcox's home, here in Mankato. Also, of course your personal needs will be addressed by the servant staff working there. You are offered the position of, of, let's call it the position of Watchman, Wilcox Enterprises, at the salary of five dollars a week. Will you fill that position?”

“I don't know anything about being a watchman. I'm a farmer and I never made a steady five dollars a week in my life that I know of”, said Jim.

“Allow me to explain, This is a temporary position to be filled during this crises with the Sioux uprising. After the threat subsides the position will be terminated by Mister Wilcox here in Mankato. Then, a new position will be offered. In the meantime you are to safeguard the property of Mister Wilcox, here in town', explained Tozer.

“How much property are we talking about?', asked Jim.

“The house. Mister Wilcox is aware of the flood of settlers entering Mankato from the farms and homesteads. The hotel is filled to capacity with women and children. The men will be sleeping on the streets and sidewalks tonight. The thought is that some toughs might break and enter, looking for lodging and also to steal. Therefore, he wants his assets protected. You he trusts”, said Tozer.

“That's mighty nice, but at this time I'm looking for information about Virginia Martin. I buried her parents. However, there's a chance that she might be in Ulm”, Jim replied.

“I'll see what I can find out for you”, said Tozer.

After receiving directions Jim rode the mule to the house owned by Wilcox. Unlike the mansion in St. Paul, this house was simple, unadorned and matched the basic style of the other homes on the street.

There was no work force, so to speak, just a cook, housekeeper and caretaker. In the backyard there was an outbuilding that could serve as a barn, so Jim placed the mule there.

When he entered the house two women introduced themselves, Harriet Aiken, a short, plump woman about fifty years old was the cook. Ethel Bush, tall, thin, with her hair parted in the middle and displaying black, bushy eyebrows was the housekeeper.

“Mister Barnes is in town. I sent him to the market. Lord only knows what the price of food will be now because of this uprising thing”, said Harriet Aiken.

“Well perhaps he will bring news when he returns”, Ethel Bush replied. “While we're waiting for him I’ll show you to your room. Mind you, it's nothing fancy. A bed. A bureau, wash bowl, pitcher and chamber pot. All of the necessities, but nothing more. It will be the same for the meals I'm afraid. Keep in mind that you are hired help and not a visitor', said the housekeeper as she led the way to the staircase.

It was one thirty in the afternoon when Edward Barnes returned from town. He came in the house through the backdoor into the kitchen and placed the groceries that the cook had ordered on the kitchen table.

“May I say, that it's about time Ed. There will not be two or three different lunches served in this house. Did you get my butter?”, asked Harriet.

“Yes, I got it, got almost the last of it as well. Alfred Hawkins said that the Barrow farm where he gets his milk, eggs and butter was burnt to the ground”, Ed Barnes answered.

“A lot of farms have been destroyed. I passed many of them on my way into town”, Jim interjected.

“You must be the new man. Mister Tozer sent an errand boy with a note telling us to expect you. My name is Ed Barnes, caretaker of this place here. Let me warn you. You are about to dwell with two of the most cantankerous women the good Lord ever put on earth”.

Jim stood up and shaking the man's hand said,”I'm Jim Wellington.

What's the latest news in town?”

Ed Barnes took a seat at the kitchen table. “I'm afraid it's all bad news. Stagecoach stations have been attacked. The northern Sioux are now attacking along the Canadian border. Steamboat and flatboat trade has completely stopped. Nothing is coming down river from St. Paul.

Another thing that is happening is that those that were lucky enough to escape and get away are still coming into Mankato. Most of them are women and children”.

Harriet Aiken placed four bowls on the kitchen table and then carried a pot of hot soup and ladle to where Ethel Bush, Ed Barns and Jim sat. She returned with a loaf of fresh baked bread and a dish of butter.

“Eat your fill people. It's vegetable soup this day and no meat. I'll be saving meat for suppers. No one knows when this mess will end and supplies will come to town”, she said as she took a seat at the table.

Jim took a slice of bread and buttered it. Turning his attention to Ed Barns he said, “Tell me about the people coming into town'.

“Like I said, they're mostly women and children. Them's the lucky one's. Story is that the Sioux have taken many, many captives. They say they kill the men and keep the young women and girls and you know what that means”, said Barnes.

“Mister Barnes! I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself, particularly opinions such as you are inferring”, said an indignant, Ethel Bush.

“Damn it Ethel! The man asked me a question, Barnes responded.

“And, watch your filthy mouth”, the housekeeper retorted.

“All I said, was damn”,said Barnes.

“Exactly”,Ethel countered.

Harriet Aiken wiped her mouth with a napkin and turned her attention to Jim. Mister Wellington may I ask how you intend to feed your mule?”, she asked.

“Right now I expect he'll eat the grass in the backyard. In the meantime I'll buy him some fodder”, Jim answered.

“Fodder? Good luck. Ain't no hay or oats in these parts now”, Barnes mentioned.

“Well, I'm sure he'll find something”, Jim replied.

“The way things are going we might end up eating the mule”, said Harriet as she picked up her bowl and took it to the dry sink.

“The smart thing to do is take him down to Bradford's Livery. Sell

him. The Army is paying good money for horses and mules. Bradford will give you more than the Jack is worth. Of course, he'll make it up from the Army”, advised Barnes.

“I might just do that”, Jim responded.

“The days went by slowly. Jim would sit on the front porch in a rocking chair. He wore the holstered Colt on his hip while the loaded carbine rested across his knees. People passed by, but paid little attention to Jim or Wilcox's house. There wasn't enough grass in the backyard to sustain the mule. Getting up out of the chair, he walked into the house and told Ethel that he was going into town to sell the Jack. He then to the back yard, used the rope bridle again and rode the mule into the center of Mankato.

“Jim sold the mule to Milton Bradford and with the money in his pocket he walked to Kramer's General Store. Once inside he purchased a new shirt, blue in color and was just about ready to buy a new collar when an excited man entered shouting, “They were defeated! The Army was defeated! Beat by the Sioux! Beat by the Sioux!”, he said loudly.

Women in the store began to cry. Men left hurriedly. Jim paid for his purchase, watched the clerk wrap the new shirt in brown paper and string then went outside and began the walk to Sidney Tozer's office. It was there that he thought he would get the right information.

Walking into the law office of Sidney Tozer the lawyer looked up from the legal brief he was preparing. “Jim, I'm a little busy, is there something you need?”, he asked.

“I just need some information. What the hell is going on? The word on the street is that the Sioux has just got the better of the army”,

said Jim

“It's true. They did. At a place called Birch Coulee. One hundred and fifty men were engaged. The army sent out a party to bury those unfortunates that had been killed by the savages. The word I have is that thirteen soldiers were killed. Forty seven men were wounded. The Sioux lost two warriors. It took a relief column from Fort Ridgely to drive off the attackers,”said Tozer.

“Where did you get that information?”, asked Jim.

“From the newspaper office next door. Actually, from the copy boy. The paper has a telegraph and receives and also sends information from all over Minnesota. Most of the news is about the war caused by the succession of the Confederacy. Right now this Indian uprising is at the forefront”.

“Damn, Manosapa is raising hell up and down the river. It seems as though no one can stop him”, said Jim as he walked towards the door.

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